Maybe V. lantana. If they're too big for the spot and they smell, well...

This is the time of year to prune--after a shrub leafs out, you only prune to remove broken branches. But if you don't like the shrubs, why not remove them?

I should amend my previous post. Of course, spring blooming shrubs are pruned right after they bloom, otherwise you'd lose the blooms. But when you're pruning to reshape most shrub, late winter/early spring is the best time to do it.

Timing always depends on what kind of shrub they are and the way in which a particular kind responds to pruning.

They're not way too big for the spot - they're in a bed on the corner of my garage. They're covering the side garage light and tend in mid summer to rub against the car when going into the garage.

I guess my question still is - if I cut off the emerging leaf buds, will they just grow new ones? I don't want to replace these as they are full grown and we may move in a year or two so don't want to invest in new shubbery.

Thanks.

if I cut off the emerging leaf buds, will they just grow new ones?

Most likely they will. It may take a little longer in the spring for them to recover, but they should.

When we had an Easter freeze spell about 2 years ago, many plants were already leafed out and had to recover. It took time, but they did.

Your description reminds me of Winterthur. I found the blooms to have a peculiar fragrance which was likened, by guests, to many things - most unrepeatable here...

The plant did have great, glossy, foliage but eventually got about 9' tall and 6' wide as it outgrew its spot. I finally removed it.

It was pruned annually, but not as drastically as you suggest. It never seemed to mind and always looked full.

"I found the blooms to have a peculiar fragrance which was likened, by guests, to many things - most unrepeatable here..."

I have Winterthur, but am wondering what it smells like to others. So Harry, can you give me a hint?

More than most other shrub species, viburnums seem to produce fragrances which are very pleasing to some and vastly offensive to others. Personally, I find most scented viburnums to be quite appealing and that includes 'Winterthur'. But then I also like the scent of V. tinus, which many liken to old sweat sox, so go figure!

I believe the sense of smell must be high subjective :-) And it may very well be influenced by soils and other growing conditions as well.

I wanna know what Harry's guests thought it smelled like. (-:

I would have guessed that caroleoh has arrowwood viburnum (Viburnum dentatum). These pretty much stink in flower, and they bloom late spring/early summer here. About the only viburnums that bloom later are Viburnum nudum and its clones, which have a bit sweeter scent but not in the range of the spice girls like Viburnum carlesii and her offspring.

brandon7:

harryshoe may be reluctant to relate the rancorous or rancid, but I can tell you the range of smells of over 100 different species and clones that have a home here. I will not speak for him and his guests, as I don't find 'Winterthur' objectionable olfactorily. I do have a problem with Viburnum dilatatum, unfortunately, which is one of my favorites for overall performance.

Reproductive fluids is as near a description as I can match it with. gardengal48's mention of old sweat socks fits nearby. I've even heard some reputable plantsmen attribute that to the odor of fallen leaves of some species. Go figure.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and fragrance - well, that's a rhinoceros of a different color.